Warrant served leads to 'marijuana tent' found in Lee home

Alan Keith Collins Jr. was charged with producing marijuana, possession of paraphernalia used to manufacture drugs and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana.

Lee County Sheriff's Office

A man wanted on a misdemeanor warrant was charged with felonies after he denied being Alan Keith Collins Jr. and a Lee County Sheriff's deputy found 10 suspected marijuana plants Wednesday growing in a tent inside the house.

Collins, who is either 33 or 34, of the 9100 block of West Hamlin Road, Fort Myers, was charged with producing marijuana, possession of paraphernalia used to manufacture drugs and possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana in addition to the violation of nonresident driver's license charge. He was released Thursday from Lee County Jail after posting a total of $5,100 in bonds.

According to Lee County Sheriff's Office reports:

A man answered the door of the house Wednesday afternoon and a deputy asked him if he was "Collins." The man said he and his wife had just moved in and he doesn't know anyone by that name.

"Collins" car was parked in the driveway and the man asked the deputy why he needed to speak with him. When the deputy said he had a misdemeanor warrant, "the white male's behavior at this point changed dramatically from calm to extremely nervous."

The man tried to shut the door, and the deputy could smell freshly burnt marijuana as the man walked inside to get his identification. The deputy, fearing the man could arm himself or flee, said he needed to watch.

Once inside, the man admitted he was Collins and he had a small amount of marijuana.

Inside, the deputy smelled "live growing marijuana." Inside Collins' bedroom, the deputy noticed a large tent with a large fan blowing on it.

Collins gave the deputy permission to look inside. The narcotics unit arrived and found the plants, seeds and about 13 grams of loose marijuana.